Forgot to get a make/model but do know it's a 10gal.Just purchased rig & flushed ALL the "pink stuff" out of her & did the bleach treatment. Flushed the system & now have fresh water with a fresh filter installed.Having issues with the hot water heater now.I triple checked the bypass valve, Even removed to to verify that it's NOT plugged. Reinstalled.How water heater fumctions on both LP & AC. It does indeed get up to temp. When turning on the hot water, after verifing the HWH was full I only et hot water for just a second.While I was working on the bypass valve I did discover the cover over the HWH. With cover removed I'm looking at the backside of the HWH.Center top rear it looks like a scald preventer, some type of valve on a hose. Perhaps this is my issue? Could this valve be preventing me from getting hot water?I double checked the water pump. God only knows how that pump was installed, It's way up behind the panel where the gae vales are located. I had to crawl in & lay pn my back in the dump station compartment. Water pump looks to have NO VALE for sucking up antifreeze. Also no screen on the intake side. I "believe" the whole house filter is ahead of the pump, possibly not.I'll post the make/model this evening.

Is your bypass valve open? You noted you confirmed it's not plugged...actually, an open condition on that middle valve would give you lukewarm water.Are you getting lukewarm water or straight cold?A mis-set scald preventer or open bypass should give you lukewarm.If either of the in or out valves on the water heater (usually top and bottom), then you should have cold."Just a second" makes it sound like something weird with the scald preventer. The make/model on that would be the most useful.

If every valve you can set manually is set correctly and your water is hot, my suspect would be a Check Valve.Your application may have none, one, or more than one. I think most have one or two, but this is a problem I've read about but not actually worked on.

What you describe is a Atwood XT model. That is a mixing valve on the back side. This model takes 10 gallons and produces 16 gallons. It has a 160 degree tstat instead of the standard 130/140. It mixes this higher temp with cold(the mixing valve you see) to produce 120/130 degree water. Common problem with these models is the mixing valve gets mineral deposits and then usually produces very little hot water and the valve needs replaced or if you are handy, clean it out. Doug

As stated in the main post I triple checked the by-pass, I even pulled it. The valve is fine.When I get home this PM I'll fill the system back up & try again.I'll post the results along with the make/model.When the by-pass is in the Normal mode Deb gets a quick shot of HW but then goes cold.I'm unable to COMPLETELY pull the cover over the HWH. I beed to trim some shelf supports to get the cover off. Ths "ant scald" looking valve Looks almost like a rotatable dial, Kinda like an inverted plactic shot glass.I'll supply some PICS Thansk

mthockeydad wrote:Is your bypass valve open? You noted you confirmed it's not plugged...actually, an open condition on that middle valve would give you lukewarm water.Are you getting lukewarm water or straight cold?A mis-set scald preventer or open bypass should give you lukewarm.If either of the in or out valves on the water heater (usually top and bottom), then you should have cold."Just a second" makes it sound like something weird with the scald preventer. The make/model on that would be the most useful.As stated in my original post;"Having issues with the hot water heater now.I triple checked the bypass valve, Even removed to to verify that it's NOT plugged. Reinstalled."

Issues with hot water heater | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

mchero
Explorer
May 08, 2014
Tapped on the valve & it started passing hot water! Will need to exercise that valve. I now know how to get to the backside w/o issue.
Itching2go
Explorer II
May 08, 2014
mchero wrote:
UPDATE

Wanted everyone to now that I was able to get hot water at the sink last night! Looks like the mixing valve is AOK! Did not ave to pull the cap that prevents it from rotating (adjusting).

I did have to modify some shelfing in the closed so that I can full the cover over the HWH if need be.

Thanks again for ALL your suggestions and posts!

So, what was the problem and fix? I'm set to replace the mixing valve on our Atwood EXT water heater this weekend. Cost me $125 and change on Amazon. Curious as to what you found. Thx...
mchero
Explorer
May 07, 2014
UPDATE

Wanted everyone to now that I was able to get hot water at the sink last night! Looks like the mixing valve is AOK! Did not ave to pull the cap that prevents it from rotating (adjusting).

I did have to modify some shelfing in the closed so that I can full the cover over the HWH if need be.

Thanks again for ALL your suggestions and posts!
mchero
Explorer
May 06, 2014
Yes the mixing valve on an Atwood XT 10 gallon water heater. Never seen one of these before. It states it equivalent to a 16 gallon hot water heater. It mixes the hot water with cold water via the mixing valve on the backside.
I have found some troubleshooting tips on the web.

For those who have not herd of one of these here's a link with decsription on an Atwood GE16-XT
http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Atwood-GE16-EXT-Gas-and-Electric-XT-10-Gallon-DSI-Water-Heater-94026-Camper-Trailer-RV

Note the by-pass valve on the backside. This valve was in the normal setting (as shown) not by-pass.

I hear the mixing valve is about $100+ smackers. Will attempt to get mine back to 100%
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 05, 2014
Folks....read OP post.
He has a mixing valve on backside of WH tank.
The mixing valve is clogged...so it isn't mixing hot with cold...just allowing a squirt of hot then all cold.

It isn't a shower, it isn't a bypass valve.....it's a problem with mixing valve.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 05, 2014
You said the bypass valve. Do you have just one? If so then you set the valve so water flows into the water heater, DO NOT TURN ON HEATER AT THIS TIME, leave the drain plug out of the heater (in fact insert a short piece of half inch pipe to route water out past the siding) if it flows, then that valve is working, shut off water.

Now, on single valve systems at the top (HOT WATER OUTLET) is a check valve, It's toast, you will need to either remove it if possible, or gut it if not (Reach in with needle nose pliars and pull the guts out) You can then add a 2nd check valve shown above which will be easier to replace when the need arises.

Second: Sucking pink stuff into the lines is the WORST way to wintereize.. blow 'em out with compressed air,, Open all valves including low point drains, let it drain, then blow with air regulated to 50 PSI, till you either run out of air, or run out of water.. Wait for compressor to recharge, or a few minutes, do it again, like 5=10 times.. Forget the pink, and the taste of pink, Just use PINK in drains and toilets where flushing it out come spring is no tribble at all.
Bobbo
Explorer III
May 05, 2014
Another possibility. Check the indoor shower and the outdoor shower, If the water is turned on to either of them, and is kept from running by the hand held unit's shut off, you could be mixing cold and hot water there and feeding the lukewarm water back. Cheap fix if that is the problem.
mchero
Explorer
May 05, 2014
dougrainer wrote:
What you describe is a Atwood XT model. That is a mixing valve on the back side. This model takes 10 gallons and produces 16 gallons. It has a 160 degree tstat instead of the standard 130/140. It mixes this higher temp with cold(the mixing valve you see) to produce 120/130 degree water. Common problem with these models is the mixing valve gets mineral deposits and then usually produces very little hot water and the valve needs replaced or if you are handy, clean it out. Doug

OK, I see Doug's post not, that's for the update.

OK Doug, looks like I'm pulling the valve after work.

Thanks
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 05, 2014
Guess you didn't read 'dougrainer' post at 10:49am (OR it wasn't there like a lot of his posts that just show up later :H )

Anyway...that is a mixing valve on the backside of your WH.
It is clogged and not properly mixing cold/hot

You can try cleaning it or replace for about $130
mchero
Explorer
May 05, 2014
its a 3-line by-pass valve. I'll have to check for a check valve if equipped. Will post PICS this evening.

Thanks